Quick Facts
Biography
Antonio L. Cabangon-Chua (August 30, 1934 – March 11, 2016) was one of the Philippines' wealthiest businessmen, Philippine ambassador to Laos under the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and reserved colonel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines being an honorary member of PMA class '56. He graduated from the University of the East in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He received a doctorate in the Humanities, honoris causa, in the Adamson University. He is a Certified Public Accountant. His business interests include real estate, hotel, broadcasting, print media, banking and insurance. He founded the Citystate Savings Bank, Fortune Life Insurance Co., Incorporated, Eternal Plans, Citystate Properties and Management Corp. (CPMC), and Isuzu GenCars, Inc.
Cabangon Chua is a known philanthropist. He has a wife named Bienvenida Angeles with seven children.
Media career
"Ka Tony" Cabangon–Chua is also a tri-media magnate, having own some business interests related to media, including newspaper BusinessMirror, tabloid Pilipino Mirror, magazines Philippine Graphic Weekly, View and Cook and the radio network Aliw Broadcasting Corporation that operates AM radio station DWIZ and FM radio station Home Radio 97.9. He is also the chairman of Nine Media Corporation, the media company behind CNN Philippines and Radio Philippines Network, that he acquired RPN from Solar Entertainment Corporation in 2014 due to the Tieng's loss of revenue after investing on RPN. He is also the chairman and president of the Catholic Mass Media Awards Foundation, appointed by former Manila archbishop Cardinal Jaime Sin from 2000 until his death.
In October 2014, Cabangon–Chua led the successful negotiations between the TV network and CNN International, that paved way for the launch of CNN Philippines, a free-to-air TV news channel currently aired on RPN-9.
In 2015, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) awarded Cabangon-Chua with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his remarkable contributions in the broadcasting business as the founder and chairman emeritus of ABC. On the same year, the Catholic Mass Media Awards confers the Special Award for Devoted Service to the Church through the Mass Media award to Cabangon-Chua.
Death
Cabangon–Chua died on March 11, 2016. He was 81. His remains lie in state of viewing at San Felipe Neri Parish, Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila.